Comments on: Would Someone Finally Destroy Mankind Please!?!?

By: Spacetree

Spacetree — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:23:24 +0000

Honestly, the endings of these movies aren't exactly happy (well, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a purely happy ending, but that doesn't really fit into the disaster movie genre). In everyone of the films mentioned the movie leaves off with the world irrevocably changed, most of the times for the worst. Sure, the aliens were defeated after ID4, but most of the large population centers were destroyed along with the people. Countries that didn't collapse will probably collapse later, and with that comes political and economic instability, war, famine… not fun times for the "lucky" few that came out alive. Sure, everyone doesn't die, but they're probably not happy in the traditional sense. The endings are more hopeful than happy – and who doesn't like a bit of hope right?

But if you want a change of pace, watch anime like Evangelion or Space Runaway Ideon. Japan has no problem killing everyone in existence (not just on Earth) – or turning them into orange goo.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:49:17 +0000

I consider myself a cinephile, therefore I take pride in my appreciation and life-long love affair with film. However, deep inside of this stuffy critic lies the heart of a true popcorn, check-your-brain-at-the-door, movie goer. I am a sucker for big-budget-disaster flicks: Armageddon, ID4, Twister, Deep Impact, Titanic – I love 'em all (however, Day After Tomorrow was a big let-down).

Despite my love for the genre (complete with the sappy, hopeful endings), I long for more depth and, dare I say it?, more realism in the genre. I was very impressed by the first 3/4 of War of the Worlds and I Am Legend; however, the gift-wrapped endings were downright ludicrous and laughable.

Give me more endings like Planet of the Apes (humans do not live on, they've been replaced by damn-dirty-apes!) or 28 Days Later. Even the ending to T2 left you wondering about the coming Apocalypse – thats my favorite type of ending to the disaster films: open-ended – humanity might learn….or they might not.

By: Jorien

Jorien — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:31:36 +0000

I know one really good low-budget apocalyptic film (and it's British!! It takes place in England!! Not in de US!!) that tells a story AFTER the apocalyps, when the army turns out to be (spoiler) as bad as the zombies: 28 Days Later by Danny -Trainspotting- Boyle. Anyone seen this one? Really good article by the way, I really love apocalyptic films, but I really hate the melodramatic ends. Another apocalyptic film by Danny Boyle: Sunshine. Also really good en not melodramatic.

By: zyzygy

zyzygy — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:20:58 +0000

That's why Escape from NY and L.A. have the best endings

By: Bryan Baca

Bryan Baca — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:00:57 +0000

Yeah I for some reason like the world eding at the end of these movies. T3 even had a good ending I thought.

By: Leandro Dubost

Leandro Dubost — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:44:32 +0000

Hollywood never fooled me, I always go to those 'apocalyptic' events movies knowing a miracle will happen at the end and the Earth will be saved or something.
The only movie that actually made me believe it could end with an actual end were Spielberg's War of the World (I hadn't, back then, watched either the original movie or read the book). The whole movie was pointing to an end of the world kinda of thing, right? I really thought the miracle at the end was unnecessary – and a very big and dumb bull**it! 'Look, look, the aliens can't stand this bacteria and are dying! Woo-hoo! THE END!!' :-/ Worst ending ever (to a very good movie, btw).

I don't know why Hollywood thinks the audience can't stand the end of the world.
Come on, the biggest box-office in history ends with one of the biggest tragedies of all time, where 2000 people died, INCLUDING the protagonist!

Even The Dark Knight was (surprisingly) a downer and still made 1 billion!

By: adu

adu — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:37:25 +0000

Yeah, I'm hate happy endings too.

Speaking of The Road, when the hell will it be released!?…anyone?

By: Khristopher

Khristopher — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:16:30 +0000

I have been saying this for years to my friends! I hate how there's always a happy ending. When it really does happen, there won't be a happy ending for humans or other animal life.

By: rattler76

rattler76 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:36:56 +0000

@davidfrank: ah, either I mist that bit in the film or it's not in there and just in the books which I haven't read.

If thats not in the film my point is still somewhat valid (desperate I know). If it is in the film the flick just wasn't good enough for me to pay attention and notice it.

But how often do films have a bad ending? You can allways count on the main character to survive because the studios think we can't handle it or won't like it.
I remember a recent discussion about that with Australia I believe.
So if that's allready a problem, forget about humanity in its entirety.

And much stranger that mankind surviving no matter what: if millions or billions die, at the end of the movie everyone's happy! Yes you just lost most of your family and friends but if they didn't have big roles in the movie you're celebrating and laughing with the few other survivors.

All together now: "Always look on the bright side of death"

By: davidfrank

davidfrank — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:09:26 +0000

@rattler76: however, there's a backup Earth in Hitchhiker's and everyone in the world gets replenished and goes on living like nothing happened, so really only during the middle act is humanity on the verge of extinction.

By: rattler76

rattler76 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:35:52 +0000

I'm guessing the "intergalactic highway projects" hints to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, where the earth is actually completely destroyed.

Yes two humans remain and yes, one is male and one is female, but 2 survivors out of approximately 6,740,000,000 is pretty damned close to extiction I'd say.

I'f that still doesn't make you happy I'd hate to have to go gift shopping for you.
Allthough a Kirk Cameron coffee mug might make you smile.